'The Voice' prepares for 'Battle'

by jmaloni

Mon, Apr 15th 2013 02:00 pm

"The Voice": Jacqui Sandell (NBC photo by Trae Patton)

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Singers go head-to-head as the 'Battle Rounds' begin

Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni

"The Voice" enters the second stage of competition this week with the start
of the "Battle Rounds." Acts from each of the four squads - "Team Adam," "Team
Shakira," "Team Usher" and "Team Blake" - will be paired off and asked to
perform a duet of a coach-selected song. The winner will advance, while the
loser may be eliminated from the show.

The four coaches will be joined by four mentors - Hillary Scott, Sheryl
Crow, Joel Madden andPharrell Williams, respectively - as they
determine which acts should continue on to the "Knockout Round."

Of the "Battle Rounds," Team Blake's Jacqui Sandell said, "We really get an
opportunity to work close with our coaches.

"Most people have asked if, you know, we actually get to really work with
them or if it's just for TV. But, no, they really take their time out and they
really, you know, listen to our concerns, and really pay attention, and correct
us, and try and make it like an amazing duet rather than a competition. And
that that's going to be the greatest thing to come out of the 'Battle Rounds'
is that connection that the audience is going to get to see, you know, that we
make with our coach."

Team Shakira's Luke Edgemon said, "We do get one-on-one time with our
coaches, we get time with our, you know, who our perspective battle partners
are going to be. They really do pour it into us and work with us specifically
on strengths and weaknesses that they feel they have noticed with us since the
beginning of the competition.

"And I feel like in the time that we have spent with them already we - I
feel like they really go above and beyond (extracurricularly), you know, when
the cameras are not even rolling for them. You know, they really do their
research. They know our voices; they know what we're passionate about as far as
music is concerned; and I feel like they really take what they have learned in
that research they do and apply it to making us better artists."

Heading into the "Battle Rounds," each team has 12 acts. That number is set
to be halved. The winning performers - and those "stolen" by the coaches - will
advance to the next round.

Let the "Battle" begin.

"The Voice" airs
Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC. For more information, visit www.nbc.com/thevoice.